QPR 1 ARSENAL 2

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT LOFTUS ROAD

Arsenal continued their pursuit of a Champions League spot as they beat a gutsy Queens Park Rangers side fighting for their survival in the Premiership.  They have been doing this for 17 years and though they might have a wobble at the back end of the season, they always do enough to clinch a Champions League spot.

  With eleven minutes gone, Charlie Austin hit a shot from distance but David Ospina saved it. At the midway point of the half, Bobby Zamora controlled the ball on the edge of the Arsenal area and passed it to Austin, who hit a shot, which Ospina saved.

Seconds later, Arsenal had the ball down the other end and Olivier Giroud hit a low shot, which Robert Green dealt with comfortably. The game was gradually warming up. Up till that point QPR had possession but were not making inroads past the Arsenal defence.  Arsenal were not allowed to settle as the QPR defence, shielded by Karl Henry and Sandro in midfield stood up to them.

In the 34^th minute, Junior Hoilett whipped a dangerous ball into the box but Ospina managed to palm the ball away to safety.  A few minutes later Austin hit a shot from distance, which just whizzed past Ospina’s right post. QPR were dominating Arsenal.

Just before the break, Arsenal played some nice one touch football on the edge of the Hoops box, which culminated in a pass to Santi Carzola, who hit a shot without breaking his stride, but Green saved it. That was a warning to QPR that Arsenal were warming up.  The game was goalless at the break. QPR put up a decent showing in the first half.

Immediately after the break, Arsenal turned up. Thomas Rosicky got down the right and put a dangerous cross into the QPR box. The defence just about scrambled the ball away.

In the 64^th minute, Hector Bellerin took the ball down the left and played it to Kieran Gibbs who crossed the ball into the six yard box, where Giroud was waiting and he smashed a low shot past Green to give the Gunners the lead.  A minute later Green had to make a save from an Alexis Sanchez shot. You just knew that Arsenal would turn up in the second half. 

Sanchez had a one on one with Green, but Green kept calm, stayed big and saved Sanchez’s shot.  QPR could barely get out of their half now as Arsenal moved the ball from side to side.  Moments later Sanchez had another chance and this time he made no mistake as he hit a low shot past Green to double Arsenal’s lead.

Next it was Mesut Ozil whose deflected shot was saved by Green. 

With 8 minutes left QPR pulled one back.  Matt Phillips crossed from the left and Zamora sold a dummy as he let the ball run to Austin, who hit a ferocious shot, which nestled in the back of the net as Ospina was no where near it, despite diving the right way.

With four added minutes Arsenal were resolute, battened down the hatches and saw out the game. The race for the third and fourth spot continues to hot up but Arsenal did their bit today, especially with their second half performance. Francis Coquelin, despite wearing a mask due to his broken nose had an outstanding game as he covered every blade of grass.  He has been a different player since his one-month loan spell at Charlton. QPR had a good display in the first half without uprooting any trees.

The delighted Arsene Wenger said: “It was very physical in the first half. We were nervous.  They (QPR) put in a shift in the first half.  It was good that Sanchez scored. He never gives up. We were all down after the Monaco game. We responded well against Everton and took the confidence into this game.”   

The QPR manager, Chris Ramsey said: “We are probably relying too much on Charlie Austin’s goals. Unfortunately you end up where you are because of the small details.  You give the ball away and get punished. With all that effort and no points I am very disappointed for the players. I thought they did well today. Scoring goals is always the hardest thing and that’s why when the top teams are not playing well they can come up with a goal. Everything is now in a cup final mode.”